Many Indian states are targeting potential tourists from Meghalaya, says Rajib Roy
THE THREE-day Travel & Tourism Bazaar (TTB) organized in Shillong last month by Kolkata-based Fairs & Festivals and supported by India Tourism proved to be informative for the people of Meghalaya. Andhra Pradesh was the theme state, Gujarat the feature state and Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Meghalaya the partner states in the event that underscored the average Meghalaya resident’s lack of awareness about tourist destinations in mainland India.
Fairs & Festivals director Amit Biswas said the event was basically to promote the destinations of the participating states. “Tour operators mainly do inbound tourism and our job is to take local people from here to mainland India,” he said, adding beaches and wildlife preserves were high on the choice list of Shillongites.
Though inflation has hit tourism in India hard, the sector remains a major job and income generator, Biswas said. This is the reason why the states that participated in TTB offered packages. Gujarat, for instance, offered sea beach festivals with traditional cuisines. MP and Andhra Pradesh also marketed the ‘fun factor’ in popular circuits.
In the case of the Northeast, tour operators felt room rents were on the higher side. The perception that the region is still insurgency-prone has also been an issue.
K Vishwas Reddy of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Limited said TTB served its purpose in terms of creating awareness about tourist destinations in India. His state is offering 50% discount to travel agents in the Northeast for cashing in on enquiries about ‘best Heritage City’ Hyderabad, Tirupati and other destinations in Andhra Pradesh. “We are getting 12lakh domestic and foreign tourists,” he said, attributing the increasing footfalls to packaged and customized tours.
According to Abhijit Dhar, resident manager of MP State Tourism Development Corporation Limited, said Meghalaya needs to be bitten by the travel bug. “The youth are going out for job or study, and they are helping generate awareness about tourist destinations,” he said Bandhavgarh, Kanha and 32 other wildlife preserves are MP’s major tourist destinations apart from marble rocks and religious places like Amarkantak, Sanchi and Ujjain.
Gujarat, on the other hand, is banking on the Mahatma Gandhi connection besides the Rann of Kutch and lion safari in Gir forest to attract tourists. “There is something for everyone in Gujarat,” said Subhash Joshi of Gujarat Tourism, underlining Dwarka, Somnath, Gandhi Ashram and Pavagarh as popular places. He also waxed eloquent on the upcoming Rann Utsav (December 15-30) that includes camel safari on the only white desert in India with maximum salt production.
Ecotourism in Gujarat is growing in popularity too, Joshi said, adding that roping in Amitabh Bachchan as the state’s tourism ambassador was a masterstroke. “We are in talks with private parties to develop 1600 km of coastline to promote beaches and beach stays.”